Door mechanism



April 8 1926.

C. C. TOMKINSON DOOR MECHANISM Filed Sept. 30. 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORNEY m n m,

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3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN 0 Cfia r/es C Ym/rm wz BY ATTORNEY C. C. TOMKINQON DOOR MECHANISM Filed Sept. 30, 1922 April 6 1926 Patented Apr. 6, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES C. TOMKINSON, OF ILAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO J. EDWARD OGDEN, OF MOUNTAIN VILLE, NEW YORK.

DOOR MECHANISM.

A plication filed. September 30, 1922.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. TowKIN- sort, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Plainfield, county of Union, and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Door Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to doors such as are used for closing large openings in warehouses, pier sheds and like structures and more particularly to a common type of such doors which are mounted to rise and swing inwardly to inclined or horizontal position. counterbalancing means is provided to facilitate the operation of the doors and one of the problems encountered in connection with doors of this charcter, is the provision of correct counterbalance at all points in the cycle of operation thereof. Another problem is to secure the proper closing of the door and the retention thereof in closed position against severe external lateral pressures such as wind pressure.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide door counterbalancing mechanism, constructed and arranged to furnish the necessary counterbalancing effect at all periods in the cycle of operation of the door.

Another object of the invention is to provide a door mounting and counterbalancing mechanism connected to the door and so constructed and arranged as to provide an additional or supplemental counterbalancing effect at the point in the opening movement of the door when such an additional force is necessary or desirable.

Another object of the invention is to provide door mechanism of the class described with means for furnishing a supplemental or additional counterbalancing force at the point of break out.

Another object of the invention is to pro-- vide positively actuating means for guiding and positioning the door in its initial move ment away from the vertical and its return movement to the vertical position.

Further objects of the invention will ap pear from the'following description taken in connection with the drawings which form a part of this application and in which,

Fig. 1 is an elevational view, somewhat diagrammatic, illustrating in its simplest form a door constructed accordance with the invention,

Serial No. 591,510.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view similar to Fig.1 but showing another form of the invention.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of a two section door constructed in accordance with the invention and showing the door in closed position.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the door sections in overlapping ppsition during the opening movement there- Fig. 5 is a view similar toFigs. 3 and l but showing the door in wide open position.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged plan View, partly in section and partly broken away, of the construction shown in Figs. 3-5 inclusive.

Fig. 7 is an elevational view of a two section door having a modified form of mounting constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figs. 8 and 9 are views similar to Fig. 7 but showing the door sections in overlapping and wide open positions respectively.

Fig. 10 is an elevational View of a two section door and illustrating another embodiment of the invention.

Figs. 11 and 12 are views similar to Fig. 10 but showing the door sections respectively in overlapping and wide open positions.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged detail view showing a modified and adjustable form of conncction between the lower end of the door supporting link and the upper door section.

Fig. 14 is an clevationalview, partly broken away illustrating another form of the invention Fig. 15 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 14 but showing still another embodiment of the invention Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation of the structure shown in Fig. 6.

The invention briefly described comprises in all of the embodiments illustrated means for guiding the top of the door during the break out period in its opening movement and means for providing a supplemental or an additional counterbalancing efi'ect during this period of the opening movement. Thisguiding means also guides and positions the door in its movement into vertical position and retains the door against lateral pressures such as severe wind pressures to which this type of door is subjected.

Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows the invention reduced to its simplest form.

In this figure a single door section 20 is illustrated this section having a handle 21 adjacent its lower end by means of which the door may be raised and having a counterbalancing cable 22 connected to the door at a point 23 shown as slightly above the lower edge of the door. A counterweight 24 is connected to the opposite end of the cable 2 and the cable 22 passes over a sheave 25.

The door is guided through its break out movement away from its vertical position by means of an arm 26 pivoted at 27 to a bracket 28 which in the form of the invention shown is carried by a track 29 supported on the building structure. The arm 26 has a socket 30 at its free end for receiving a laterally extending stud 31 carried by one of the edges of the door section. In practice two sets of such arms would be provided.

To assist in raising and swinging the door during its break out movement and to insure the retention of the socket 30 in engagement with the stud 31, a spring 32 is secured to the bracket 28 and to the arm 26 and tends to rotate this arm in a clockwise direction. This spring is preferably made strong enough to exert a lifting force on the door during the initial vertical and swinging movement thereof. In this connection it should be borne in mind that after the door has been swung to the lower dotted line position and the upper end of the door is sup ported by the engagement of a roller 33 mounted on the stud 31 with the track 29,

portion of the weight of the door is carried by the track and therefore the necessary counterbalancing force is not as great as during the initial movement of the door. For this reason, as above stated, the spring 32 may provide an initial supplemental counterbalancing force and the counterbalancing weight 24 can be so proportioned as to furnish the required counterbalancing effect after the door has engaged the track 29.

A stop 34 is formed on the bracket 28 for limiting the clockwise rotation of the arm 26.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 2 the spring 32 is much lighter than that shown in Fig. 1 and is provided merely for insuring the engagement of the socket 30 of the arm 26 with the stud 31 on the door.

The supplemental counterbalancing effect is provided in this case by a coil spring which surrounds the cable 22 and is adapted to be compressed, when the door is in closed position, between the weight24 and a stop 41 formed in the building structure. Upon the initial opening movement of the door shown in Fig. 2 the compressed coil spring 40 will exert a downward pressure on the counterweight 24 and will therefore furnish additional counterbalancing effect during the initial door opening movement.

In Figs. 3-6 inclusive a two section link type door is illustrated. This door comprises a lower section 45 and an upper section 46, these sections having the usual interengaging parts for guiding the lower section with reference to the upper section during the first part of the opening movement and during the last part of the closing movement. The lower section also has a roller 47 disposed preferably adjacent its lower end and positioned in suitable vertical guideways 48.

The upper door section 46 is provided at its side edges adjacent the upper end thereof with laterally extending pins or studs 49 upon which are mounted rollers 50, the studs 49 extending through and beyond the rollers. In this embodiment of the inventron arms 51 are pivoted at 52 on brackets 53 secured to the building structure or door casing and each of the arms'51 has formed on its free end a socket 54 adapted to re ceive one of the studs 49 carried by the upper door section. on or secured thereto adjacent their free ends and in alinement with the sockets 54, pivot pins 55 on which are pivoted links 56. The opposite ends of the links 56 are pivotally connected at 57 to the upper door section. It should be noted that the pivot points 55 and 57 for the links are disposed in different vertical planes to facilitate the swinging of the door away from its vertical position during its opening movement, (Fig. 3) and in a different relation (Fig. 2) to facilitate the swinging of the door to its vertical position in closin In this form of the invention a single counterweight 60 is used, this counterweight having a sheave 61 secured thereto around which extends a counterweight cable 62. One end of the cable 62 is secured as shown at 63 to the lower door section and the opposite end is secured to the pin 55 carried by the arm 51. It will be understood that two counterweights are provided, one for each side of the door.

The swinging movement of the arms 51 is limited by stops 64 formed on the brackets 53.

The door shown in Figs. 3-6 inclusive. operates as follows. During the initial opening movement the door section 45 moves to overlapping position with reference to the upper door section 46, this movement being assisted by the counterweight 60 which because of the reduction mechanism formed by the sheave 61 and the connections shown, produces a lifting force on door section equal to one half the weight of the counter weight. I'Vhen these parts however, reach their overlapping position and the opening movement is continued, the door sections Will move in unison and will be guided by the engagement of the arms 51 with the upper door sections through an arc to the The arms 51 also have formed position shown in Fig. 4. During this movement the counterweight will exert an additional upward pull on the upper door section as the arm 51 moves from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 4. lVhen this position has been reached no further upward pull will be exerted on the upper door section and the counterbalancing force will take effect solely through the connection to the lower door section. This counterbalancing effect will be sufficient during the remaining portion of the opening movement since a portion of the weight of both door sections will be supported by the links 56. As the door sections start from the position shown in Fig. 4 toward that shown in Fig. 5, the studs 49 leave their sockets 54. During the movement of the door sections from the position shown in Fig. 4 to that shown in Fig. 5 the links 56 will swing in an anti-clockwise direction about the pivots 55 to the position shown in Fig. 5. In this figure the outer end of the door is shown as supported by a shelf bracket which engages one of the rollers 50. In closing, the studs 49 reenter the sockets 54, and move the arms 51 back to their original position. The arms in turn cause the upper edge of the upper door section to move up to and against the header of the door frame.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 36 inclusive, the door sec tio-ns are positively guided during their movement away from and into vertical position and that a supplemental counterbalancing force is exerted during this period in the door movement.

In Figs. 79 inclusive, another embodiment of the invention is shown. In this embodiment the door sections 45 and 46 are mounted in substantially the same manner as that shown in Figs. 36 and a single counter-weight 60 is suspended from a cable 62 as in the previous construction. In this form of the invention, however, a lost motion connection is provided between the upper door section and the pivoted guiding arm in the following manner. The arm 71 is pivoted at 72 to a bracket 73 carried by the door casing and without further description it will be understood that two of these arms are preferably used. Each arm 71 has pivoted thereto at 74 a link 75, the opposite end of which is pivoted at 76 to the upper door section 46. Each arm 71 has also formed therein an elongated slot 77 adapted to receive a stud 78 secured to the side edge of the upper door section 46 adjacent the. upper end thereof. From the showing in the drawings, it will be noted that one wall 79 of the slot is shorter than the other wall 80 i order to permit the stud -78"to swing clear of the slot when the door reaches the position shown in Fig. 8.

The cable 62 is connected at one end at 81 to the lower door section and at its opposite end is connected at 82 to the arm 71. The bracket 7 3 has a stop 83 for limiting the movement of the arm about its pivot in a clockwise direction.

The structure shown in Figs. 7, 8 and 9 operates as follows. The lower door section 45 is raised to overlapping position with the upper door section in the usual manner. Further opening movement of the door will be guided by the arms 71 since in the closed position of the door the studs 78 are locked at the inner ends of the slots 77. As, the door sections move in unison the upper ends thereof will be guided by the engagement of the arms and the studs to the position shown in Fig. 8 and dur ing this movement the door sections will niove vertically in such a manner that the studs 78 will move to the opposite ends of the slots 77. During this movement also the links. 75 will swing with the arms 71 to the position shown in Fig. 8. As the door sections thus move in unison the counterweight 60 will exert a counterbalancing effect both through the connection to the lower door section and through the connection at 82 to the arms 71. This connection will also swing the arm about its pivot. After the door has reached the position shown in Fig. 8 the counterbalancing connection at 82 to the arms 71 will retain the arms against the stop 83 and the links 75 which now support a part of the weight of both door sections will swing in an anti-clockwise direction about their pivot connections 74 to the arms 71. The counterbalancing weight 60 during this movement will exert its effort through the connection 81 to the lower door section and the door will be swung to the position shown in Fig. 9 in which the outer end is shown as supported on a shelf bracket 84 which engages a roller 85 mounted on stud 78.

Another form of the invention is shown in Figs. 1()13, inclusive, and in this form a lost motion connection is provided be tween the lower ends of the links and the upper door section. Arms 91 in this instance, are pivoted at 92 to brackets 93 and have formed on their free ends sockets 94 for receiving studs 95 secured to the upper door section at points adjacent the upper end thereof. Links 96 are pivoted at 97 to the arms 91 and are connected by pin and slot connection 98. 99 to the upper door section 46. Since the lost motion connection is desirable only during the initial movement of the door sections away from the vertical or during the break out movement, means is provided for Securing a pivotal connection instead of a pin and slot connection during the remaining portions of the door movement. This means comprises a latch 100 pivoted at 101 to each link 96 and engaged by a spring 102 which tends to swing the latch toward the link. The lower end of the latch has a hook 103 adapted to engage the pin or stud 98 carried by the upper door section.

In Fig. 13 the latch 100 is shown as vertically adjustable between set screws 101 and the limit of movement of the pin 98 in the slot 99 is also shown as adjustable in length by a set screw 105. In the position of the link and upper door section when the latter is closed the pin 98 is disposed at the lower end of the slot 99. During the initial opening movement of the upper door section. however, the pin 98 will move to the other end of the slot whereupon the latch 100 will snap under the pin and retain the pin in this position. In order to release the latch when the upper door section again returns to its closed position, as shown in Fig. 10, a cam 106 is secured to the door casing in the propor position to engage a corresponding cam surface 107 formed on the latch. In Fig. 11 these two cam surfaces are shown in engagement with each other and the latch is about to be released.

The cable 62 in this form of the invention is connected at one end as shown at 108 to the lower door section and at its opposite end is connected to the arm 91 at the point- 97 at which the link 96 is connected to the arm.

Th construction shown in Figs. -12 opcrates as follows. The lower door section is raised to overlapping position with the upper door section in the usual manner and thereafter the two sections are raised and swung in unison. The pin and slot connection 98, 99 permits a slight vertical movement of the sections prior to their swinging movement and subsequent to this movement the sections will be guided by the arms 91 to the position shown in Fig. 11. The links 96 then supporting a part of the weight of both door sections will swing in an anticlockwise direction above their pivots 97 to the position shown in Fig. 12 wherein the outer end of the door is supported on shelf brackets 109.

In Fig. 14 still another form of the invention is shown and in this form is illustrated a pin and slot connection 120, 121 between the upper end of the link 96 and the upper door section.

In arms 125 are pivoted at 126 to bracket 127 and have pivoted thereon links 128 which are connected by a pin and slot connection 129 and 130 to the upper door section. The counterweight cable 62 is connected at one end 131 to the lower door sec tion and at its opposite end is connected at a point 132 to the 125. It will. be seen,

that as the door sections move in unison away from the vertical and are guided by the arms 125 the counterweight will cause the arms 125 to be swung about their pivots thus helping to raise the doors. lVhen the arms 125 are in engagement with the stops 133 the portions of the cables connected thereto will be disposed in alinement with the points 132 and 126. The counterweight therefore will exert no further counterweighting effect through its connection to the upper door section.

The arms 125 have formed on their free ends sockets 135 for receiving studs 136 se-- cured to the upper door section in the manner pointed out in connection with the other forms of the invention. .3

From the foregoing specification it will be seen that simple and effective door 1nechanism has been designed and that means has been provided for effectively guiding the door sections through their initial movement away from vertical position and through closing movement into vertical position. It will also be noted that supplemental or additional counterbalancing effect has been provided during these periods of the door movement.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have been particularly shown and described, it will be understood that the invention is capable of further modification and that further changes in the construction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating parts may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as expressed in the following claims.

lVhat I claim is 1. A door arranged for vertical and lateral movement, means for supporting the door in all positions thereof and supplemental means engaging and movable with the door for guiding the door through its initial movement from vertical to inclined position.

2. A door arranged for vertical and lateral movement, link supporting means for said door and supplemental guiding means en- 'gaging and movable with the door during its break out movement.

3. A door arranged for vertical and lateral movement, link supporting means for said door and guiding means supplemental to said link means engaging and movable with the door during the initial opening movement of the door away from the vertical and during the closing movement of the door into vertical position.

1. A door arranged for vertical and lateral movement and means inactive when the door is open but engageable by and movable with the door toward the end of its closing movement for guiding the door to its vertical closed position and for retaining the door against lateral pressure.

5, A door arranged for vertical and lateral novement and pivoted means engageable and movable with the door toward the end of its closing movement for guiding the door to its vertical closed position and for retaining the door against lateral pressure.

6. A door comprising an upper and a lower section, means for raising the lower section to a position overlying the upper section and for subsequently swinging the sections as a unit from vertical position and supplemental pivoted guiding means engageable with the door adjacent the upper end thereof and movable with the door sections as they move as a unit through the break out period of their opening movement.

7. A door comprising an upper and a lower section, means for raising the lower section to a position overlying the upper sectionand for subsequently swinging the sections as a unit from vertical position and supplemental guiding means engageable with and movable with the door sections as they move as a unit through the break out period of their opening movement, said supplemental guiding means being released from guiding engagement with the door after the door has completed its breakout movement, and counterbalancing mechanism operative on both sections during the break out movement.

8. A door comprising an upper and a lower section, means for raising the lower section to a position overlying the upper section and for subsequently swinging the sections as a unit from vertical position and supplemental pivoted guiding means engage able with and movable with the door sections as they move as a unit through the break out period of their opening movement, and means for limiting the pivotal movement of said guiding means.

9. A door arranged for vertical and lateral movement and supplemental means movable with the door during its break out movement for guiding the top of the door through an arcuate path, said guiding means being released from the door after the door has completed its breakout movement 10. A door arranged for vertical and lateral movement and supplemental means engageable with and movable with the door only during its initial movement away from and final movement into vertical position for guiding the top of the door through an arcuate path.

11. A door comprising an upper and a lower section, link supporting means for the upper section, means for raising the lower section to a position overlying the up per section and for subsequently raising the sectionsas a unit and swinging the sections as a unit, said link supporting means being so constructed and arranged that the effective length of the link is varied during the initial movement of the sections in unison.

12. A door arranged for vertical and lat eral movement, means for supporting and swinging the door, means inactive when the door is open but engaging and movable with the door for guiding the door through its initial movement from vertical to inclined position, and counterbalancing means connected to said guiding means,

13. A door arranged for vertical and lateral movement, link supporting means for said door, guiding means engaging and mo- -able with the door during its break out movement, and counterbalancing means flexibly connected to said guiding means.

14. A door arranged for vertical and lateral movement, means for supporting and swinging the door, means engaging and movable with the door for guiding the door through its initial movement from vertical to inclined position, and counterbalancing mechanism for said door including means for furnishing supplemental counterbalancing eiiect during the initial movement from vertical to inclined position.

15. A door arranged for vertical and lateral movement, link supporting means for said door, guiding means engaging and movable with the door during its break out movement, counterbalancing mechanism for said door effective during the entire range of movement thereof and means for furnishing supplemental counterbalancing effect during the break out movement.

16. A door arranged for vertical and lateral movement, link supporting means for said door, guiding means engaging and movable with the door during its break out movement, counterbalancing mechanism for said door effective during the entire range of movement thereof and means connected to said guiding means for furnishing supplemental counterbalancing effect during the break out movement.

17. A door arranged for vertical and lateral movement, link supporting means for said door, guiding means engaging and movable with the door during its break out and closing movements, and stop means for limiting the movement of said guiding means.

18. A door arranged for vertical and lateral movement, guiding means engaging and movable with the door only during its break out and closing movements and link supporting structure pivoted to said guiding means and to the door.

19. A door arranged for vertical and lateral movement, guiding means engaging and movable with the door only during its break out and closing movements and counterbalancing mechanism connected to said guiding means.

20. A door arranged for vertical and lateral movement, guiding means engaging and movable with the door only during its break out and closing movements, link supporting structure pivoted to said guiding means and to the door, and counterbalancing mechanism connected to said guiding means.

21. A door having a laterally projecting stud adjacent the upper end thereof, and a guiding arm pivoted on a fixed bracket and engaging said stud for guiding the door through the break out movement thereof.

22. A door having a laterally projecting stud adjacent the upper end thereof, and a guiding arm pivoted on a fixed bracket and engaging said stud for guiding the door through the break out movement thereof and means for retaining said arm in engagement with said stud.

23. A. door having a laterally projecting stud adjacent the upper end thereof, an arm pivoted on a fixed bracket and engaging said stud during a portion only of the move ment of the door for guiding the door through the breakout movement thereof, and counterbalancing mechanism connected to said arm at a point near the portion of the arm engaging the stud.

24. A door having av laterally projecting stud adjacent the upper end thereof, an arm pivoted on a fixed bracket and engaging said stud during a portion only of the movement of the door, means for retaining said arm in engagement with said stud, and a link pivoted to said arm and to said door.

25. A door arranged for vertical and lateral movement and having studs projecting laterally adjacent the upper end thereof, arms pivoted on fixed pivots and engaging said studs during a portion only of the movement of the door, and a link pivoted to each arm and to the door intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof.

26. A door comprising a plurality of sections, arranged to move vertically and lat erally, means engaging and movable with the upper section for guiding the door during its break out movement and counterbalancing mechanism connected to the lower section and to said guiding means.

27. A door comprising a plurality of sections, arranged to move vertically and laterally, pivoted means engaging and movable with the upper section for guiding the door during its break out movement and counterbalancing mechanism connected to the lower section adjacent the lower edge thereof and to said guiding means.

28. A door con'iprising upper and lower sections arranged to move together vertically and laterally, a counterbalancing mechanism comprising a counterweight, and a connecting means between the counterweight and the upper door section arranged to produce an upward pull on the upper door section, and means for neutralizing said upward pull at a predetermined part of the movement of the two door sections.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of September, 1922.

CHARLES C. TOMKINSON. 

